Grinch Poke Cake (Easy Christmas Dessert)

I first stumbled across a version of this Grinch poke cake while scrolling for festive Grinch dessert ideas one day, and I knew right away I had to try it. The bright green cake, the red pudding filling, and the fluffy green frosting all looked so cheerful and fun.

After a few tweaks and plenty of help from my grandkids, this simple make-ahead recipe quickly became a family favorite. It is soft, colorful, and incredibly easy to put together, making it the perfect kid-friendly Christmas dessert for parties, school events, or cozy nights at home.

Now it is the cake we bake almost every Christmas, a reminder that the best traditions sometimes begin with a recipe you discover online. One bite and everyone’s hearts grow three sizes.

Why You’ll Love This Grinch Poke Cake Recipe

• Make-ahead friendly – tastes even better after chilling overnight.
• Crowd-pleasing – moist, colorful, and perfect for parties.
• Simple ingredients – boxed mix or scratch base, your choice.
• Kid-friendly fun – poking the holes is half the joy!

Ingredients

Cake Base

• 1 box white cake mix
• Ingredients listed on the back of the box (water, oil, eggs)
• Neon green gel food coloring

Filling

• 1 (3.4 oz.) box of cheesecake instant pudding
• 2 cups + 2 tablespoons milk, divided
• Red gel food coloring

Frosting

• 1 cup unsalted butter, softened
• 4–5 cups powdered sugar
• 2 teaspoons vanilla extract
• 2 tablespoons milk (from the divided amount above)
• Green sprinkles
• Jumbo red heart sprinkles

Equipment You’ll Need

• 9×13-inch baking dish: the classic size for poke cakes. Glass or metal both work fine.
• Large mixing bowl: for combining the cake mix and wet ingredients.
• Whisk or hand mixer: to get the batter and frosting smooth and lump-free.
• Wooden spoon handle or large straw: perfect for poking even holes in the cooled cake.
• Food syringe, turkey baster, or small piping bag: makes filling the holes with pudding neat and easy.
• Medium bowl and whisk: for mixing the cheesecake pudding filling.
• Offset spatula or silicone spreader: for spreading the frosting evenly to the edges.
• Measuring cups and spoons: for accuracy — especially when adding milk or powdered sugar to the frosting.
• Rubber spatula: for scraping every bit of that green frosting goodness from the bowl.

How to Make a Grinch Poke Cake

Step 1. Prep the Pan & Oven: Spray a 9×13-inch baking dish with nonstick spray and set aside. Preheat your oven to 350°F (177°C) so it’s ready when the batter is mixed.

Step 2. Mix the Batter: In a large mixing bowl, whisk together the cake mix, water, oil, and eggs until smooth. Add a generous amount of neon green gel food coloring, whisking until the color is evenly blended and you reach that perfect Grinchy shade of green. Tip: The batter should look a few shades darker than you want the baked cake to be — it lightens as it cooks.

Step 3. Bake the Cake: Pour the batter into your prepared baking dish and bake according to the package directions, following the recommended time for a 9×13-inch pan.

Step 4. Cool & Poke: Once baked, let the cake cool completely in the pan. Using the handle of a wooden spoon or a large straw, gently poke holes evenly across the entire surface of the cake, spacing them about an inch apart.

Step 5. Make the Red Filling: In a medium bowl, whisk together the cheesecake pudding mix and milk until smooth and thickened. Add a few drops of red gel food coloring and whisk again until you have a bright, even red hue.

Step 6. Fill the holes: Use a food syringe, turkey baster, or small piping bag to carefully fill each hole with the red pudding. Don’t rush — aim for even coverage so every slice gets a pop of color.

Step 7. Chill to set: Refrigerate the filled cake for about 30 minutes to let the pudding firm up before frosting.

Step 8. Make the frosting: In a large mixing bowl, beat the softened butter until smooth and creamy. Mix in the vanilla extract and a few drops of neon green gel food coloring, then add about half of the powdered sugar. Gradually add the remaining sugar, alternating with small splashes of the reserved milk, until the frosting is light, fluffy, and spreadable. If it feels too thin, beat in a bit more powdered sugar.

Step 9. Frost the cake: Spread the green frosting evenly over the chilled cake, smoothing it to the edges.

Step 10. Decorate: Sprinkle the top with green sprinkles, then add jumbo red heart sprinkles for that unmistakable Grinch touch.

Step 11. Chill and Serve: Keep the cake refrigerated until you’re ready to serve. Slice and enjoy those festive red pudding pockets hiding inside!

Seasonal Variations

This cake may be inspired by the Grinch, but you can enjoy it long after Christmas!

• St. Patrick’s Day: green cake + vanilla or mint pudding, topped with gold sprinkles.
• Spring birthdays: same green base, pastel frosting, and rainbow sprinkles.
• Halloween: lime-green cake + purple pudding for a Monster Mash twist.
• Game days: match team colors — green field, red or yellow filling!
• Summer BBQs: lemon pudding + light green frosting = Citrus Poke Cake.

Make-Ahead & Freezer Tips

This cake was made for busy holiday schedules. It’s bright, fun, and easy to prep ahead so you can focus on the party — not the oven.

• Make-ahead: Bake and fill the cake, then cover tightly and chill up to 2 days. The red pudding sets beautifully, and the colors stay vibrant.
• Frost before serving: Cold cake + fresh frosting gives the cleanest slices.
• Freeze before frosting: Wrap cooled, filled cake in two layers of plastic wrap and foil. Freeze up to 1 month.
• Thaw overnight in fridge. Frost and decorate once chilled but soft.
• Decorate last: Add heart sprinkles just before serving for crisp color.

Substitutions & Dietary Swaps

• Gluten-free: Use 1-for-1 gluten-free cake mix.
• Dairy-free: Use almond milk and coconut whipped topping.
• Natural color: Spinach powder for green; beet juice for red.
• Low-sugar: Sugar-free pudding + light whipped topping.

And that’s it — your easy, festive Grinch poke cake! Soft, colorful, and full of holiday cheer, it’s a simple dessert that never fails to make hearts grow three sizes.

Tried it? I’d love to hear how it turned out, leave a comment below and share your tips! Don’t forget to save this recipe on Pinterest so you can find it again next Christmas.

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